Alpinestars Cape Town Air Drystar Jacket
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8
8
Nice jacket
Overall a very good jacket.
Some issues with the size it feels small and if you put on the two linners in, it colud be very tight.
The collar is a little too high for my taste and a little too tight when fully closed.
Very good air flow
Good sized pockets.
Good quality easy to use zippers
May 16, 2013
Good all around jacket
After a year of wear in all kinds of conditions I'm very pleased with this product. I've worn it in 100 degree heat, in temps down to 45 with both liners, in the rain and was comfortable. It is water proof and with a heated vest instead of the fleece liner I'm sure it would be good to 30. The only thing I don't like is the weight with the optional chest and back protectors in but when on the bike I don't really notice and I like the extra protection.
April 25, 2013
Great Value/Feature-filled ADV Jacket
I've had this jacket for almost 2 years and living in Phoenix (and traveling some), I have experienced some extreme heat riding. This jacket performs well in 40 - 100+°F temps. Things that stand out in this jacket are: the material/build quality, the amount of air that flows through, the two large front pockets that I use daily, and the comfort this jacket provides. There was only one issue that I had with this jacket (that is mostly resolved now) is that when you button the collar out of the way, a piece of the collar protrudes and drags on your neck (real uncomfortable). I have alleviated this by not zipping up the jacket all the way. Overall, I really like the jacket for ADV/touring/3-season riding.
April 16, 2013
good commuter jacket for most weather
I first bought the Olympia AST 2 jacket, but found I couldn't bend my arms in that jacket so returned it for the Cape Town. I chose the high-viz jacket and really like the design of it. I'm 6'2" and 200lb with a size Large.
This jacket is a little bit snug, but it's breaking in well. It comes with 2 liners, one wind/waterproof and the other insulation. I've tried the different configurations with varying success. There's a lot of ventilation in the arms which keeps the jacket cool enough on warm days. And I found that adding the insulation layer without the windbreaker doesn't add much warmth since that air just blows right through. I've had one rainy ride with the jacket (without the insulation layer), and although it felt like my arms were getting wet, the jacket kept me dry through the ride.
My biggest problem with this jacket is that the collar is really big and tight. I find it way too restricting to ride with closed, and it's inconvenient and in the way when left open. It does add a bit more warmth on the cold rides though, so others might like it.
November 18, 2012
Nicer than leather, tons of pockets warm coat..very small cut though
Im a 44 chest and these are sized small (europe) I went to XL
and it's still snug,.Decided after spending money for return shipping of a large (L) to live with it,but in retrospect would have liked a XXL to wear a warm shirt.Also if you have any middle age beer gut, you wont like this coat, tight in midsection because of straps.
October 3, 2012
Sweet jacket for highway riding
I'm tall and skinny (6'3" 165 lbs) and I went with the Medium. Fits great in the body, though the sleeves are a bit short (but I'm told that's on purpose, so they don't rub on your gloves or something. Whatever.) I like the 3/4 length on a sport-tourer. If I had to nitpick, the collar can be slightly uncomfortable, but you can snap it open.
I wanted to go with the High-Viz but it looked pretty ridiculous in real life. The grey looks very nice, and I think it will look even better once it loses that nice new sheen.
I love all the pockets. The back pocket is especially nice. Sometimes I'll throw the EZ-Pass back there, where my passenger can grab it for tolls.
The waterproof lining is nice and warm, seems to keep me dry, although I haven't been in a downpour yet. The liner runs a bit small, definitely short in the arms, and it doesn't come down to 3/4 (it stops at the waist).
Way better airflow than a leather jacket. The foam padding in the chest and back stops a lot of air, so it might be cooler with the foam out.
Overall, it feels very comfortable and secure.
June 28, 2012
Cape Town Mesh Jacket in Black/Yellow
I purchased this jacket on-line from Rezilla, firstly on competitive price and secondly because it wasn't available in Australia. I was looking for a jacket suitable for riding in our weather being hot in summer, generally cool/mild in winter. As such mesh with a removable lining was the plan, after 40 years of motor cycles, safety yellow and reflective tap to assist blind car drivers a must. After using this jacket daily in the traffic and for a few day trips on Sundays I am more than happy with the Cape Town. The fit is good, plenty of adjustment, the zippers and velcro are functional, it's still comfortable despite the padding.
May 7, 2012
Great jacket!
The jacket seems to be sized a bit small - I ended up going with a size larger than normal - the A* sizing chart seems to be at least a couple inches off in the shoulders and chest on these. Adding the liner to the jacket doesn't help in that regard either!
This thing will flow a lot of air when you're moving, however, unlike a lot of traditional mesh jackets, there is still a non-removable lining under the mesh which could hinder airflow.
The collar is pretty tall, and takes some getting used to. I could foresee it popping the snap off of a d-ring strap holder on certain helmets,
The liner is pretty breathable but is just as waterproof as advertised. Not thick enough to be particularly warm, even with the fleece, but you can always put on a sweater underneath.
Chest armor blocks a fair portion of the front venting, however, I don't think it'd matter too much. The chest "armor" is nothing more than cheap foam padding anyways, and I don't think you'd lose a lot by removing it or taking a hole punch to it. The same goes with the back "armor" as well, however, I think the Bionic Air back protector that matches the jacket would be a wonderful addition. Perhaps the replacement chest armor as well, as it is also ventilated.
The Jacket fits easily into a Givi E21 case, which is very convenient when visiting clients during the day.
It's *super* lightweight compared to what I'm used to (thick leathers with heavy armor) - much more comfortable, but this is my first proper textile jacket and I would be curious to see how the lighter armor and materials hold up in a get-off.
The liner is a bit of a pain to install and remove, mainly due to the fact that the wrists do not unzip, they only tighten/loosen with velcro, which makes securing the ends of the sleeves of the liner difficult.
Overall, I think this will be a great three-season jacket from what I've seen so far. It seems high-quality and well thought-out. I'll probably spend the extra money for the upgraded chest and back armor, because I really think it'll make the jacket safer *AND* improve airflow.
My only major complaint is the selection of colors available. Hi-Viz yellow, and dark grey. How about a light tan or something? People buying this jacket are planning on riding it in HOT climates, and making the thing dark and black does not help people stay cool (or stay visible if they don't want the neon green road-worker look)
Oh, and my mom says it's very stylish :)
March 19, 2012
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